GovernmentExecutive.com

Return to Article: 9/11 investigation spawns whistleblower movement

• 6341
  

  As I've said numerous times in response to misappropiation of funds, acts of sexual harassment, persons misusing their office etc. there is never any accountability. It's an old boy/girl network which protects one another and you don't name names lest the trail leads back to the big dog. Ever wonder why the only accountability is with the people at the bottom of the chain? One person says throw the bums out of office which is a good start but if done correctly would just about eliminate everyone and to throw one out is bad enough. The big question is how to get rid of the bums. They are in and they are well protected by laws they inacted to protect their rears. It's all about money and everything else is second at best. We need a way to oust a person from office if we aren't satisfied with their performance. We need to demand term limits to keep individuals from growing too secure and strong in their position. We need to demand these individuals come under the same pay program, health benifits, retirement system etc. we have. We need to demand accountability and make it clear they will lose their benefits and retirement if found guilty of corruption or intentionally not doing the job they were hired to do. BUT IT APPEARS IT WILL BE BUSINESS AS USUAL AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT. I JUST HOPE IT DOESN"T COST US WITH OUR LIVES.

  GovExec.com reader Posted September 23, 2004 7:40 AM
• 6285
  

  Two hundred and fifty people witness a carjacking. But none of them have any credibility because they weren't in the car?! Careful there sweetie. Your slip is showing. And you've obviously never been in the military, have you dear? Didn't think so. Otherwise you'd understand WHY those 250 men stepped forward and exposed themselves to ridicule by nameless dingus like you. Are you nice and comfy sniping at people from the nameless shadows dear? Uh, huh.

  Lest you think I'm being hard on you there "hon", I'm a real Vietnam vet. Just like tens of thousands of other men and a hundred plus women. And, 250 whistleblower Swift Boat vets.

  One last thing there dear dingus. You've probably never heard this before, but this should be a fairly accurate quote by Ben Franklin. "Laws are for honest men. They keep honest men honest." And whistleblowers are just a little added insurance.

  Art Doss Posted September 20, 2004 8:53 PM
• 6263
  

  If you think 250 swift boat vets are a force to be listened to, can you tell me why not one of them was on the boat with Mr. Kerry? They have a political axe to grind and they have at least one participant to the smear campaign.

  How quickly we lose our context when we fail to think before we act.

  GovExec.com reader Posted September 17, 2004 7:59 AM
• 6195
  

  This is what you get when you ignore or jettison Civil Service rules for the rank and file. One outcome is that we erode the protections which were enacted to support a climate of open dialogue.

  Who, in their right mind, would self destruct their own career, and livelihood, without some protection against reprisals? Civil Servants need the tools to deflect sometimes parochial political attacks, to do their jobs.

  GovExec.com reader Posted September 14, 2004 10:29 AM
• 6192
  

  Whistleblowers always spark such interesting debate...

  When there is only one source, it is relatively easy to pass them off as someone with an axe to grind against their cause (fill in the blank). When the list of individuals with the same complaint coming forward grows and grows (e.g. Swift Boat Vets), the charges begin to take on a new legitimacy because they can't all be liars. (Of course there are those that believe in the other side as inerrant and consider those 250+ whistleblowers as evidence of a conspiracy - and conspiracy theorists also create interesting debate...)

  As I've noted before on this issue, there is a lot of finger-pointing on causes but precious little accountability being taken for the actual corrections. Congress is charged with oversight which requires them to exercise accountability on the various agencies' leadership to correct any noted deficiencies. Congress has NOT taken action; they are far more wrapped up in electioneering.

  Throw the bums on the Intelligence committees out of office - THEY are supposed to stay on top of the intelligence agencies and haven't done much of anything except for ducking all responsibilities for taking corrective actions of the problems identified.

  GovExec.com reader Posted September 14, 2004 8:10 AM
• 6182
  

  I don't think a Senator or Congressman will do a thing to correct government. I(we)have tried, but both parties, I'm shocked to learn, have no interest. All some honest Americans wanted was a job, to help. But, we have only uncovered a hornets nest of corruption, specifically in the TSA and DHS....You don't believe it you say....Check out some of these sites!

  aviationplanning.com (then archives)

  dontspyonus.com (all links)

  secure-skies.org (archive links)

  Watchdogs 799 (for now)

  GovExec.com reader Posted September 13, 2004 7:52 PM